Lies In Rewind

by Tali Alexander

  “Oh Lord, I just spoke to Louis and he told me that he heard from a friend of his that Will is in New York trying to have Isabella’s book published. He’s upset and he begged me to be careful, and that if Will tries to make any contact whatsoever to avoid him at all costs. Louis is freaking out, Sara. He’s afraid Will may have pictures of me from St. Lucia and that he’ll try to use that against Louis. Oh God, thank goodness we didn’t make any plans to meet him. Let’s forget about this whole stupid idea. I need to let Louis deal with him, especially since it involves Bruel Industries. That was a close one, huh?”

  I’m a little speechless, but since lying comes natural to me, I just smile and say, “Saved by the bell. We just won’t answer him. I’ll block his number so he won’t be able to text or call me back, or well, he thinks it’s you.” Oh Lord, what have I done?

  “Perfect, I’m sure he was just trying to use me to get back at Louis for his sister’s sake anyway. I must have it stamped on my forehead: ‘I’m a gullible fool, lie to me.’ I don’t need that kind of book about my husband floating around. Can you imagine if Rose were to find out about it? You know how mean kids can be, I’m sure they would make fun of her and it would be all over the news. And if Will has pictures of me naked in bed with him from St. Lucia, that would be catastrophic. I think Louis would definitely murder him.” She falls back on the couch and covers her face with her hands in horror. No doubt imagining Louis’ face if naked pictures of her hit the tabloids.

  This Will guy is starting to sound like a big douche, and suddenly, a plan started materializing in my head of chaining him to the bed until he signs a few legal documents that I’m itching to draw-up, making sure he won’t try to hurt Louis by dragging Emily and those beautiful kids through the gutter…son of a bitch. The only way to hurt Louis Bruel is by hurting what he loves most in the world, and I believe that Will probably worked that out for himself by now. I will most definitely keep our meeting, but my goal now needs to be ensuring that my best friend and her children will not be used as a pawn by Will Knight, in his sister’s grand scheme of revenge.

  Emily finally leaves to go back home and I’m left all alone in my new, beautiful, temporary abode until I figure out where the fuck I want to start building a new worthless life for my lonely self. I mean, the path my life is on right now is pure crap, how much worse could it possibly get? Gavin and I are done, we used each other to the max and there is nothing left to our relationship, not even a friendship. I need to somehow rewire my brain and my heart to forget about the only man that ever mattered. I know he loves me, but it’s not enough. I need to start a life, a family; I’ve waited too long. I have no one to blame but myself and I accept it, and I’m moving on. I hear my phone buzzing with a text message, but I need to shower quickly and get ready to meet Will the asshole and set him straight once and for all. No one messes with my girl and lies to her…well, I lie to her, but I do it for her own good. She needed to have an adventurous friend that she lived vicariously through and that was me. None of the lies I’ve ever told Emily were meant to hurt her. The only person that pays and got hurt by all those stories was and is me.

  The shower at my new penthouse is incredible. The hot water cascades down from the ceiling with at least ten jets pounding at my sad limbs. I look at my reflection through the thick glass shower door and wonder to myself what is it about me that is not quite desirable enough? What is it about me that he can’t seem to let go of and yet not quite adequate to be his everything? Maybe I need to get my boobs done? I’m tall, I could use bigger boobs to look sexier. Who am I kidding? I would never alter my body for a man, especially since he’s never once mentioned a need for my breasts to be fuller. He loves me as I am; it’s just that in our case, love is not always enough.

  An hour later I’m out of the shower with steam still coming off my body. Jeff and I could never shower together because I only bathe in scalding-hot water. Last time he joined me in the shower, he said he got second-degree burns on his back. Stop thinking about him, Sara, I mentally yell at myself, no good ever comes out of thinking about him.

  I lay on my big, beautiful bed and look at the clock on the wall. It’s almost seven. I need to stop daydreaming and come up with a kickass plan of attack for when I meet this bastard, Will. I should’ve asked more details about him from Em. Unless he takes his drawers off, I really have no clue what the fucker looks like. Maybe I should ask him to send me a picture to refresh my memory, I think as I start giggling. He’d know for sure that someone who’s not Emily is fucking with him behind those texts. I’m an attorney, I’m sure I can figure this out. How hard can it be to spot a poor fool looking for a woman?

  I decide that it’s better for me to wait for him at the lobby cafe, and watch to see who enters. I will leave Jeff’s name and a key at the check-in counter. My plan seems solid; if he looks too mental, I’ll just call security and abort the mission. He has no idea who I am and what I look like. No one will know and we’ll all live miserably ever after. The End.

  I decide this undercover rendezvous calls for my black Gucci one shoulder cocktail dress paired with the black Louboutin Pigalle heels. I finger dry my hair, add a little blush, gloss, perfume, and off I go to help my best friend rid herself of Will “The Problem Intruder” Knight. I was there when Emily fell in love with Louis Bruel. I know what he means to her and what those two have; it’s not something that a stranger from St. Lucia is going to ruin with a book and some photos. My best friend almost lost her husband a month ago. I will not let this parasite try to destroy them. I will make sure he leaves Emily and Louis Bruel alone if it’s the last thing I do. I owe her that…

  “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club

  The pompous fucker is some kind of shareholder in this bloody hotel. Maybe he bought stock in the hotel when he found out I was staying here. I don’t have many belongings with me, I didn’t even pack an overnight bag when I got on the jet to bring Emily back home to her dying husband. I’ve been waiting for her to call me, text me, bloody anything for the past forty-one days. I’ve been this close to speaking with her twice. She’s just always either with him or her children. Stupid idiot, she has children, go home! my head keeps nagging at me. He’s alive, she loves him, she chose him, and I need to let her live her life. If she thinks he’s good to her, why am I still bloody here? Maybe people change. I try to convince myself of that, knowing just how false the notion is. I wish Isa had found a guy that was good to her, that wanted to change for her. I swallow the big lump in my throat that my thoughts have conjured up.

  I sit on a lonely bench by the main entrance of The Pierre Hotel while I wait for my car to arrive, attempting to map out a plan. I should just arrange a flight back home and call it a day. Forget New York, forget Emily, forget Louis and just let sleeping dogs lie. I haven’t officially been back to London since Isa’s funeral. I did come back unofficially for a few hours to announce my engagement to my parents only to find out my fiancée has been sucking off my best mate on a daily basis for years, therefore ending our silly engagement before anyone even knew. Serves me right for going after his fit secretary. Jason always bragged how Brandy is a godsend and helps him think clearer. Bullocks, to think I almost married a woman that works on her knees for someone other than me. Can a bloke’s life be any more fucked up? I snicker at my pathetic existence. I actually feel nothing for Brandy, we had nothing but good sex, really good sex. I don’t need to marry someone for good sex; I can pay for that. I want what money can’t buy. If I had one wish right now, and the choice to bring Isa back wasn’t available, I’d wish for a fair shot with Emily. I would make her so happy, she would never have a reason for that hopeless look she had on her face when she came to me. If I had her, I would be the luckiest man in the world. You can’t buy that.

  I get a text from my driver letting me know he’s outside. I stand up to leave the hotel to find my ride when my eyes register what my mind has dreamt up for weeks. I see her walk through the hotel’s main entrance.
I’m certain that it’s her in the revolving doors, and it’s hard for me to breathe. She’s here and she’s walking towards me. I walk towards Emily in utter and complete disbelief. This is a dream, my prayers have been answered and she bloody came to me. Then, suddenly, like in one of my nightmares, she passes by me as though I’m invisible and abruptly makes a sharp right turn and enters one of the waiting elevators. Boom—she vanishes. As soon as the elevator closes I feel lightheaded and I let out the breath I must’ve been holding. Well fuck me, Lucy. Emily, my Emily, is at The Pierre! Maybe they fought? Maybe she left him? Maybe she’s looking for me?

  I walk over to reception and try to charm the knickers off the cute Asian bird working behind the desk. “Would you be kind enough to check and see if my friend checked in already?”

  She gives me a smile and answers, “Do you know what room your friend is staying in?”

  I have no clue but nobody needs to know that. I decide that Louis wouldn’t go through the trouble of coming to see me this morning unless he was trying to avoid me running into Emily this afternoon. And if Emily were my wife, I would have her booked at the best suite this hotel has to offer.

  “I believe it’s one of the suites, maybe the Tata Suite or perhaps the Penthouse,” I tell her with a smile that I think women find sexy.

  She smiles and blushes, confirming my earlier assessment. She starts typing into her computer before she asks me. “What is your friend’s name?” Another easy one, I think to myself. What would the fucker use?

  “Louis Bruel.” I say without hesitation.

  The woman looks at me and tells me without missing a beat, “Yes, your friend has arrived. Should I call up and let him know you’re here?” My heart starts beating again. Fate leads the way. Just like she walked into my hotel forty-five days ago, she just walked into my arms once again, and no matter what Louis is trying to pull by having me escorted out of New York and far away from Emily, I will get my chance to see her again. I thank the receptionist and ensure her that I’ll call my friend on his cell to come fetch me.

  I dial my chauffeur and cancel my ride. I sit myself down at the café and wait until my heart starts beating regularly again and until I come up with a way to see Emily. If she only knew how I want to run up and see her, but I don’t have a way to make it past security and the elevator attenders know I’ve checked out. But I can wait, I have all the time in the bloody world to let destiny bring us back together again.

  I try to keep calm and act busy, check my emails and Instagram accounts repeatedly when I get my first text from Emily, a text that I’ve patiently waited for over forty long days to finally receive.

  - Hi William, it’s Emily Bruel from St. Lucia. Please let me know if you’re still in NYC and if you’re available to meet. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you.-

  I start typing quickly before this somehow proves to be a mirage or a figment of my imagination. The first thing I need to make sure is that this is, in fact, real.

  -Emily is that really you?-

  I wait breathlessly for her response. Who else can it be? Why is she being so formal with me? ‘This is Emily Bruel from St. Lucia’…does she really think I wouldn’t know who she was? Does she really not know that I haven’t thought about anything or anybody but her in the past forty-five days? I can’t even think back to a time where she wasn’t a permanent occupant in my mind. I take a few deep breaths but I can’t halt the panic from spreading because she still hasn’t answered my text.

  -Yes, it’s me.-

  Her reply comes in almost ten minutes later. I smile like a loon as I eagerly press send to the message I already had written out.

  - I need to see you. I’m in New York, not too far from you. I’ll meet you anywhere, anytime. I have much to tell you. Don’t believe anything you hear about me. I would never harm you. You don’t know how happy I am to finally be able to talk to you.-

  I hope and pray she’ll want to meet now, today or tonight, because I have no intention of leaving this hotel without seeing her. I need for us to talk. I need to touch her, feel her, or just be close to her. I bring my fingers to my nose again and try to remember her scent. The way she let me make her come was the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced. The only thing that mars that crazy wild night was when she screamed his name once she finally let go and detonated around my fingers. How could she not remember anything? Am I that unremarkable compared to him? Maybe she does remember, perhaps she’s embarrassed that she let me make her forget him and the pain he caused her. How could he have neglected her and then cheated on her? Louis fucking Bruel was and always will be an animal. When you give a pig a diamond, he doesn’t know better and still treats it like rubbish. Fucking dirty cheater. I feel bile coming up every time I think of all the things he did to my sister.

  I look down at my phone and see another text from her.

  - Can we meet at The Pierre tonight? It’s on 5th Ave between 60th and 61st street. I have a suite reserved and I think it’s better if we meet privately away from the paparazzi or anyone that could recognize me.-

  Amazing, not only did her stupid husband not succeed in driving me out of his so-called city, he probably helped fate once again by bringing us together. Thank bloody God that Karma is a brilliant bitch.

  -I know exactly where it is. What time should I come?-

  I find myself smiling so hard my face starts to hurt. I haven’t smiled like this since that time we spent together. My cock springs to life just thinking about that night.

  -10PM. I’ll leave you a key at reception under the name Jeffery Rossi.-

  Perfect, I’ve been called worse before, Jeffery will do just fine. I’m sure her stupid husband made sure I was banned from having access to any of the rooms at this hotel. But you can’t keep us apart, Louis, I think as the permanent smile spread across my face widens. I’m euphoric and my giddiness won’t subside. It’s only four in the afternoon, but I don’t mind waiting another six short hours if it means seeing her. I quickly leave the café and walk towards the hidden restaurant away from inquisitive eyes as I type back, -I’ll be there- and patiently wait for the fair chance Emily and I never got.

  “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls

  I take the elevator down to the lobby bar at The Pierre hotel feeling for the first time in weeks like a woman. I’ve really kept to myself and my work after the whole Gavin breakup. Besides my pajamas and business suits, I haven’t worn anything remotely as feminine as this slinky black dress. I wonder what this Will guy looks like? In my head, I picture him looking more like Gavin—black hair, handsome, tall with big balls. I smile to myself, remembering Emily’s vivid description of his package. I wonder for the hundredth time if anything happened that night between those two. What a scandal that would be for the Bruels! Louis might have to start peeing on Em to re-mark her. I am full-on laughing to myself, making the elevator attendant smile; if she only knew what mental image I have dancing around in my mind of Louis peeing on Emily. Men.

  I walk over to the receptionist and hand him one of my room keys. Em had given me two keys just in case I misplace one.

  “Hi, I’m Sara Klein, I’m a guest of Emily and Louis Bruel, I’ll be staying at The Penthouse for a little while. Can I leave this key with you to pass along to a friend whom I’d like to have access to my suite? His name is Jeffery Rossi. He will be arriving tonight around ten. Could you please give him this key and send him up?” I ask the man at the desk.

  “Sure thing. We’ll just add him to your approved guest list and send him right up with the key. Mr. Jeffery Rossi, correct?”

  I smile, nod, and walk away.

  My goal is to find a quiet little nook to do some thinking. I decide that the little restaurant tucked past the iconic Pierre rotunda will be perfect. As I step into the famous rotunda I look up at the blue-domed ceiling, I smile remembering the great debate Em and I always had about where the best place in the city was to have our weddings. Emily was firm on The Plaza
and I always had a soft spot for The Pierre because of this stunning room. After all these years, I still feel like I’m inside a fairytale surrounded by the neo-Renaissance murals. I enter Sirio, the small Italian restaurant, and find a seat at the bar to try and figure out what my approach to Will “The Problem” Knight should be. It’s only eight in the evening so I have plenty of time to eat and construct a killer plan of attack.

  I look around and see only a handful of people. I’m actually the only one sitting by the bar. This place is cozy with soft, boring, old-fart music streaming in. I take out my pad, order a French martini, and start writing down some notes about my line of questioning.

  “Is this seat taken?” I hear someone ask as I lift my gaze to find Brian looking sexy and edible, smirking down at me. Fuck! I forgot to cancel my “booty call” with him. NO! NO! NO! My insides scream. What the fuck do I do now? I start looking frantically around to try and figure out how to get myself out of this disaster. I see a good-looking, light-haired man sitting at a table studying his phone. I get up and give Brain a hello kiss, looking at the stranger on my left again. This time he’s smiling down at his phone and I decide that he will do just fine for what I’m about to use him for.

  “Brian, shit, I can’t believe you came all the way here!”

  “You don’t make it easy. I was looking for you at the lounge by the entrance. You weren’t answering my texts; I thought you’d bailed on me. Sara, this dress and you, I’m excited about this. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I knew this would happen one day,” he says with downcast bedroom eyes as he runs his fingers down my bare arms.